For one of the most difficult household appliances to clean, you can combine common household products and clean a dirty oven without chemicals. If you've ever looked at the ingredients in a commercial oven cleaner, you know that they are chemicals. These can irritate the respiratory tract, skin, lungs and eyes. Understandably, many people are concerned about using such cleaning products in an appliance that they use to prepare their food. If you are one of them, here are some harmless and inexpensive alternatives that have been proven to be effective.
Use cleaning tricks and clean the oven without chemicals
Burnt food particles and layers of fat can pose a fire hazard. Additionally, dirt disrupts the flow of hot air, making your oven inefficient and resulting in food not being cooked properly. Depending on the dish, improperly prepared food can even be a...cause food poisoning. All in all, it's worth taking the time to properly scrub the oven. You can of course also use the device's self-cleaning function, but this creates odors and uses too much electricity. So, carry out the cleaning process naturally using home remedies. Your oven can be sparkling clean in no time with vinegar, baking soda, and a few household supplies.
Use baking soda and acetic acid as effective cleaners
If your oven is dirty and you prefer a natural solution, you can try a combination of vinegar and baking soda. First, remove the grates and use a dry brush to break up any large charred areas and loose crumbs. Use the brush to collect the loose crumbs in a corner and sweep them into a dustpan or vacuum with a hose attachment.
- Then mix ½ cup baking soda with water to make a paste. Next, spread the paste on the bottom of the oven, the sides, and the inside of the oven door, avoiding the heating elements.
- Leave the mixture on for at least two hours or overnight. Then fill a spray bottle half with water and half white vinegar and spray the cleaning solution over the baking soda. The acid in the vinegar reacts with the baking soda and causes it to foam. This action will help remove the burnt food stains from the oven.
- After 30 minutes, use a rubber spatula (if necessary) and a rag to remove the mixture. Finally, wipe everything down with a damp cloth.
Steam cleaning with vinegar
You can use your ovenclean without chemical cleaning agents, by also combining hot water with vinegar. The fumes absorb the dirt inside the oven and soften it, making it much easier to remove with a cloth.
- Start by bringing a third of a pot of water to a boil on the stove. Once it starts to boil, add an equal amount of white vinegar. Let the mixture cook for another 30 seconds.
- Next, remove the pot from the heat, place it on the rack in the oven and close the oven door. Let the pot stand for 45 to 60 minutes.
- As soon as you open the door you can start cleaning.
- Wipe the surface with a soapy cloth. The dirt comes off much easier than if you scrub it.
How to clean your oven without chemicals with water and lemons
Using a little water and two lemons may also be enough to get your oven clean. Take a pan and fill it with water. Then add the juice of two lemons. You can also add the lemon halves directly to the pan.
Then place the pan in the oven and turn the device on to the highest setting. Let the water boil and take out the pan. The steam will loosen the dirt and grease in your oven and help you remove stubborn stains more easily. You can scrub these with a scouring pad to get rid of them more quickly. Allow the oven to cool before wiping it with a damp cloth.
Quick hack with salt for cleaning ovens
Using salt is another quick, cheap and easy way toto clean an oven. While you are baking, sometimes food you are cooking may spill out onto the bottom of the oven. If this happens, quickly open the oven door and sprinkle some salt on the leak. After the oven has cooled down, it will be easier for you to get rid of the stain treated with it.
Scrub hard-to-reach areas with an old toothbrush
A clever trick for cleaning hard-to-reach areas in the oven is to use an old toothbrush. For example, dirty areas in the bathroom can be cleaned, but as a home remedy, the toothbrush also proves to be very useful in the kitchen. In addition, hard-to-reach areas and corners in the oven can be cleaned better and more effectively. Simply dip a toothbrush into one of the cleaning solutions described above and you will be amazed at how easy it can be to clean such areas.
How to clean the oven rack of the oven without chemicals
Due to the awkward size and shape of oven racks, they are often not cleaned as thoroughly as they should be. It is therefore best to soak a dirty oven rack in the bathtub or in a hot bath. However, before you begin the cleaning process, you should line the tub with old towels to prevent it from getting scratched.
- Then fill the bathtub with water and add baking soda and vinegar. In this case, you can also use cleaning tablets for dishwashers. These do an excellent job of cleaning the dishes, but also act as a degreaser on the oven rack.
- Otherwise, completely submerge the grate and leave it in the water for a few hours or ideally overnight.
- After soaking, use the old toothbrush or a scrub brush again to remove any stuck-on grease or food.
- Finally, remove the oven rack from the bathtub and rinse it under warm water.
- Dry the grate with a clean kitchen towel.
- Don't forget to rinse the bathtub when you're done.
The key to this method is to let the oven rack sit in the cleaning solution long enough for the ingredients to work their magic, so scrubbing is minimal.
This is how you can clean the oven door
The glass door of your oven needs to be treated more gently compared to the racks because glass is more susceptible to scratches. This means avoiding abrasive products and using a gentle cleaning technique with circular movements. Again, to clean your oven door glass without scratching it, you can mix baking soda and water into a thick paste. Spread the paste generously on the glass and leave it on for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Then carefully wipe off the paste with a microfiber cloth. Then rinse the door glass thoroughly with water and buff dry with a clean cloth for a sparkling shine.
Sometimes an oven's glass door is made up of two panes of glass, which can lead to a buildup of crumbs, dust, or grease streaks over time. This is something you can easily clean, although it does require a few extra steps.
- First, open the door and rest it on your leg to support it.
- Then unscrew it at the top of the door. By resting the door on your legs, you prevent it from falling and breaking.
- After unscrewing you will have access to the intermediate layers of the oven.
- Use a vacuum hose with a small nozzle to vacuum up dust and crumbs. If youRemove grease from oven doorIf you want, you can use a wet sponge with a long handle. Alternatively, we recommend a ruler with a damp washcloth attached to it.
More cleaning tips for ovens
No matter which of the cleaning methods described above you choose, it is best if yourCleaning the ovenShould be done without chemicals, you should first start by vacuuming out dirt, dust, crumbs and deposits. You should also after thePyrolysis, or after the self-cleaning cyclesuck out the remains. Here are a few more steps you can take:
- Use the suction hose, or if that feels too strong, try the crevice attachment. Even better, your vacuum cleaner has built-in storage for cleaning tools so you can easily switch between the crevice tool and hose when cleaning the oven.
- If an upright vacuum feels too cumbersome or you have a narrow kitchen, a handheld vacuum may be a better choice.
- Carry out this cleaning process every three to six months, or more often if necessary.
- The more care you give to your oven, the easier the cleaning process will be.
- Aside from making work more bearable, a relatively clean oven also means tastier food and fewer germs.
Also read: “CLEANING WITHOUT CLEANING PRODUCTS: WHICH NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICAL CLEANING PRODUCTS USE?“
